Saint sparks Derby dreams with Geelong Classic win
Earlier on the Geelong card, Saint Emilion (Snitzel) proved himself a burgeoning force for the in-form Ciaron Maher stable, and likely VRC Derby (Gr 1, 2500m) contender, after the colt took out the Geelong Classic (Listed, 2200m). The son of Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice) had shed his maiden tag on his previous start when scoring at... Read More
Smooth success for new Cup contender
A new contender for next month’s Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) was unveiled on Wednesday when Onesmoothoperator (Dialed In) made the smoothest of Australian debuts in the $500,000 Geelong Cup (Gr 3, 2400m). Trained by Brian Ellison in North Yorkshire, England, the seven-year-old boasted just four all-weather wins before Wednesday’s contest, but had hit a... Read More
Justify juveniles in high demand at the Gold Coast
Coolmore’s US Triple Crown winner Justify (Scat Daddy) made his mark at the Magic Millions Horses in Training Sale on Tuesday with his two lots, a colt and a filly, selling for a combined $1.125 million at the Gold Coast. Given his absence from Australian shores this breeding season, the progeny of Coolmore’s champion stallion... Read More
The ghost of Tavistock
For the third Saturday in succession the late Tavistock (Montjeu) sired a Group 1 feature winner. The sequence, which began with the Epsom Handicap (Gr 1, 1600m) won by Ceolwulf, was continued with the Livamol Classic (Gr 1, 2040m) won by Snazzytavi then completed with Ceolwulf’s devastating run to deny the warm fan favourite Pride... Read More
Bowditch in buoyant mood ahead of Magic Millions Horses In Training Sale
Barry Bowditch is hopeful that a strong international presence will act as the catalyst for a buoyant market when the Magic Millions Horses In Training Sale returns to the Gold Coast on Tuesday. Magic Millions’ managing director is expecting the competitive bidding – both in the ring and online – for some quality juveniles to... Read More
No international recognition for the NSW ‘dirty dozen’
Black type status for New South Wales’s list of 12 races supposedly given recent upgrades – including the four already run – have no recognition internationally, it has been confirmed, as the chaos surrounding Australia’s grade pattern continues. It comes as the influential Society of International Thoroughbred Auctioneers (SITA) expressed its severe disappointment that Australia... Read More